Sen. Johnny Isakson disclosed Wednesday that he has Parkinson’s disease, but will run for re-election next year.

The Georgia Republican, currently in his second Senate term, said he is in the “early stages” of Parkinson’s, a progressive neuromotor disease characterized by tremors, slow movements and impaired balance. Read More »

After clearing the Senate last month, President Barack Obama‘s trade agenda is expected to reach the House floor soon. Here are five issues to watch as trade legislation inches closer to a vote. Read More »

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D., Md.) slammed a Florida Democrat whose campaign took a hard edge this week in criticizing a group of fellow Democrats who are leaning in favor of supporting legislation to expedite the passage of trade deals through Congress. Read More »

Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Tuesday she would continue to oppose legislation that would pave the way for President Barack Obama’s signature Pacific trade deal while many of its key provisions remain hidden from the public. Read More »

With key provisions of the Patriot Act in limbo, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky hopes to use the weeklong congressional break to stir grassroots opposition to government collection of Americans’ phone data—and to continue ginning up support for his Republican presidential bid.

The Senate will return from its Memorial Day recess May 31, a day earlier than planned after Mr. Paul on Saturday blocked renewal of the antiterror law’s provisions that expire June 1. One House Democrat supporting the program called the outcome a “catastrophe.”

Mr. Paul, reveling in his success at temporarily blocking the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of Americans’ phone data, has splashed the issue all over his campaign website and fundraising appeals. Read More »

According to a new book by Mr. Paul, that attire reflected a take-away lesson from his famous 13-hour Senate filibuster in 2013, which catapulted him to national prominence. Asked afterwards what he would do differently next time he filibustered, he said, “Tennis shoes. The next time I will wear tennis shoes.” Read More »

Former Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold, who served three terms from Wisconsin before being ousted by Republican Ron Johnson in the 2010 tea party wave, said Thursday morning that he’ll try to win back the seat next year.

He is one of a handful of former Democratic statewide officeholders likely to try to recapture public office in 2016. Already former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, age 73, is running against GOP Sen. Rob Portman, and in North Carolina former Sen. Kay Hagan, age 61, may seek the job she lost in 2014 by challenging GOP Sen. Richard Burr. Read More »

The White House is pushing back at the suggestion that President Barack Obama‘s pointed disagreements with Sen. Elizabeth Warren on trade were related to her gender — publicly telling another prominent Democrat that he should apologize for the suggestion.

Sen. Sherrod Brown on Tuesday told reporters that Mr. Obama’s criticism of Ms. Warren was “disrespectful” and suggested that her gender may be driving some of the animosity in the increasingly heated dispute between Capitol Hill progressives and the White House.

“Sen. Brown is a standup guy and I’m confident that after he’s has a chance to take a look at the comments he made yesterday that he’ll find a way to apologize,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said on MSNBC on Wednesday. Read More »

Sen. Lindsey Graham is planning to announce his presidential campaign June 1. The next week he will be raising money for his Senate war chest.

Taking time from what will then be a nine-day-old presidential campaign to appear at a fundraiser for his Senate PAC may not indicate the South Carolina Republican is laser-focused on winning the White House.

About Washington Wire

Washington Wire is one of the oldest standing features in American journalism. Since the Wire launched on Sept. 20, 1940, the Journal has offered readers an informal look at the capital. Now online, the Wire provides a succession of glimpses at what’s happening behind hot stories and warnings of what to watch for in the days ahead. The Wire is led by Reid J. Epstein, with contributions from the rest of the bureau. Washington Wire now also includes Think Tank, our home for outside analysis from policy and political thinkers.